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N AR R ATI V E 



Surrender of a Koirimarid of U, S, Forces, 



FORT FILMORE, N. M 



IN rULY. A. I). [801. 



Major JAMES COOPER McKEE, 



BOSTON: 
PRINT! D BY Jl IHN A. Ll IWELL & CO. 

1 8 8 e . 



THIRD EDITION. 
300 Copies for Private Circulate 






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INTRODUCTORY 



U/I1ILE on duty at Head Quarters, Department of Arizona, 
" Whipple Barracks, Prescott, A. T., in 1S78, I wrote the first 
edition of this Pamphlet from notes and memoranda taken at Fort 
Filmore, New Mexico, at and before the time of its surrender. 
This material had been carefully preserved, though carried back- 
wards and forwards on the frontier in New Mexico and Arizona 
for many years. 

The MSS. when finished was shown to, and read by several 
prominent officers of the army, among whom was Inspector General 
Edmund Schriver, U. S. A., (now retired), then on a tour of inspec- 
tion of the department, and they all, with one accord, advised and 
urged its publication, for they had repeatedly heard this " surren- 
der," discussed and argued from so many different stand-points, 
as to show an ignorance of the facts as to the circumstances sur- 
rounding it. 

Accordingly, the first edition was printed and distributed 
among Army friends only. 

It was in demand, showing that it met a want, and this 
edition was soon exhausted. 



A second edition was then published in 1SS1, in which was 
added a brief account of the topography of the country. This has 
likewise become exhausted. 

Lately, having many applications from gentlemen, both in 
civil as well as military life, some of whom are collecting all ob- 
tainable materials bearing on the history of the Civil War for Pub- 
lic Libraries and the Libraries of Colleges, I feel compelled to 
issue this edition, in which I have added a map of the country 
and a view of old Fort Filmore, N. M., from memory, as it has 
long since disappeared. 

An Index lias been made and added for the convenience 
of readers and annotators. 

With thanks for the many encouragements, both written and 
verbal, received from friends for thus honestly and fearlessly tell- 
ing -the truth about this, the most humiliating and disgraceful event, 
that has ever blurred the brilliant escutcheon and splendid record 
of the Regular Army, 

1 remain, 

The Author. 



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TOPOGRAPHY 



~s ~ \\Y. Rio Grande del Norte rises in Colorado, and pursues a 
\£) course, nearly due south, through a valley which is determined 

by the backbone, so to speak, of the Rocky Mountains. It first 
assumes some consequence as a stream at Sante Fe, the capitol of New 
Mexico. It quits the Mountains and the Territory at El Paso, and finds 
its way to the Gulf of Mexico. Its valley embraces pretty much all 
the cultivated land and principal towns in the Territory — indeed, all 
that was worth protecting from Indian incursions in that region. The 
distance from Sante Fe to El Paso, by the river course or wagon road, 
is not far from three hundred miles. Twenty-five years ago, the prin- 
cipal towns and posts between these two places, were Albuquerque, 
Las I.unas. Socorro, Fort Craig, Fort Thorn, Dona Anna, Las Cruces, 
and Fort Filmore. The last named post was situated on the left 
hank of the Rio Grande, forty miles above El Paso. In 1S61 the 
posl was composed of square adobe houses, with the usual Hat dirt 
roofs, the walls extending up all around, forming a parapet. The 
officers quarters on one side, and the soldiers barracks on two others, 
formed a quadrangle, inclosing about three acres of ground. The 
side next the river was open. The houses were not connected by 
palisades or earthworks, and were generally twenty or thirty feet 
apart. The space, about half a mile wide, between the post and the 
river was partially occupied by a bosque or grove of cottomvoods, in 
the bottom land, near the river. The country on all other sides of 
the fort was open and rolling, the mountains, fifteen miles to the 



eastward, were approached by a gentle slope. The main road, run- 
ning north and south, passed by or through the fort. Northward it 
led to the little town of Las Cruces, about seven miles distant, and 
eight or ten miles further up the river to Doiia Anna. Not far 
above the latter place the road divides, its western branch crossing 
the river, thence to Fort Thorn, and around a great bend of the Rio 
Grande to Fort Craig. The eastern branch passes directly across 
the "Jornada del Muerto," or Journey of Death, to the same post. 
Between Fort Filmore and Las Cruces a road branches off to the 
eastward through San Augustine Pass to Fort Stanton, N. M., about 
one hundred miles distant. South of Fort Filmore the road led to 
El Paso without any branch.es. The Rio Grande was fordable in the 
neighborhood of the fort at three places, one a mile below, another a 
mile and a half above, and the third two miles above this. Opposite 
the lower ford, on the west bank, was the little town of San Tomas, 
one and a half or two miles above which was the larger town of 
Mesilla ; to pass from the post to Mesilla the middle ford was gener- 
ally used, and to go between Mesilla and Las Cruces the upper ford 
was the most convenient. 



N A R R ATI V E 



'/ HE winter of i86o-i, was passed in a very trying winter cain- 
^sg$ paign of six months duration against the Navajoe Indians, 
X. M.. under command of Major E. R. S. Canby, Tenth 
U. S. Infantry, (afterwards Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, and 
murdered by the Modoc Indians of Oregon in 1873). 

Peace with the Indians was made in April, 1861, when all the 
officers and soldiers were ordered to their respective posts. 

Mine was fort Filmore, X. M., within forty miles of El l'aso. 
Texas, and therefore on the border. I took the stage at Albu- 
querque, X. M.. for my post, and reached it in due course of time. 
On my arrival, and not to my surprise, I found the garrison 
and people in the neighboring towns of Mesilla, Eas Cruces, ami 
Do lia Anna, in great excitement and agitation at the near approach 
of hostilities between the North and South, on account of the election 
and inauguration of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency. I was so de- 
lighted to get back from my hard winter campaign, that I did not 
notice at first, in the flush, any change in the manners of my old 
acquaintances and friends among the citizens ; yet after a few days 
rest and further intercourse, I saw a coolness and distance in their 
manner. 

I had been for six months away in the field, during the fierce 
excitement which followed the election, and culminated in the civil 
war, and hence I was ignorant of the fact, that Southern men and 
Secessionists now looked upon their army friends as their enemies. 

Major Isaac Lynde, Seventh U. S. Infantry, a veteran of thirty 
7 



four years (having entered the army in 1827) was in command. His 
hair and beard were gray, giving him a venerable appearance; he 
was quiet, reticent, and retired, giving the impression of wisdom and 
a knowledge of his profession. I looked up to him with more than 
ordinary admiration and confidence, thinking and reasoning with 
myself that, being old and of long experience, with not many years 
to live, certainly he did not fear death, and could be depended on to 
defend the honor of the flag. It took some time for me to-doubt his 
efficiency and bravery as an officer and commander. I sadly saw 
that no effort was made to put the command in fighting trim, and no 
measures taken to insure us against surprises. 

The command was hampered with the wives and families of live 
officers, and the wives and families of soldiers, numbering about one 
hundred souls. Lynde had his family with him, and had been warned 
repeatedly of this incumbrance, but was too weak to act. No move 
or effort was made to send them north to Santa Fe, N. M., — a place 
of security. 

Here was marked incompetency to start with, and ought to 
have caused his removal from command. After our surrender, I 
thought that I fathomed the reason of their detention. It was, 
that he might embarrass our movements, and have an additional 
excuse for the surrender. Being a civilian, I had no very distinct 
ideas of civil warfare or defensive works, yet from experience in 
three Indian campaigns I knew the importance and necessity of a 
system of pickets around the garrison, yet we were in seeming 
security, while an enemy was advancing on us, over a public highway 
running through the fort, and not a picket out for our security or to 
prevent a surprise. Not even an addition made to the ordinary 
routine sentinels on post duty, viz., one at the guard-house, one at 
quarter-master's corral, and one over the commissary store-house. 
Nothing was done, and no measures taken to guard against surprise, 
either by night or day. Was there ever such another instance in all 
8 



history of such imbecility, neglect, or criminal indifference ? For my 
own personal safety, I kept at the head of my bed, and within reach, 
my trusty double-barreled shot-gun, loaded with buck-shot, my navy 
revolver, and my watch-dog lay on the mat at my bed-room door. 

One day an alarm was given that the Texans were advancing 
on the fort ; the company officers repaired to their company quarters, 
I hastened to the hospital near my quarters, but some distance out- 
side the fort, the regimental band being in camp alongside. I 
ordered the front windows to be taken out, and had the hospital 
steward, attendants, and convalescents armed and drawn up in line. 
The men of the band of the Seventh Infantry were also formed in 
line. The question arose as to which ranked, the hospital steward 
or the sergeant of the band ; on inquiring I found that the steward 
ranked, and therefore I put him in charge of the whole squad. I 
had my shot-gun in my hand, and told the men I wanted no trifling 
about the prospective fight, that it must be carried on in earnest, to 
take good aim, to see that their first fire was effective, and then to 
retreat into the house and fire from the windows. The alarm was 
groundless, as no enemy came. The next day ist Lieut. E. J. Brooks, 
Seventh Infantry, Post Adjutant, called on me at my quarters, and in 
the name of the commanding officer, forbade me taking command of 
the band, or putting my steward in authority over the sergeant. 

This man Brooks, born in and appointed from Michigan, was a 
secessionist and a traitor, and used his position to aid and assist the 
old imbecile Lynde in carrying out his infamous and cowardly 
schemes. As adjutant he was the confidential adviser of the com- 
manding officer. No doubt he urged non-resistance and surrender. 

In the disgraceful affair of Mesilla he received a scratch from a 
bullet on the forearm, and had his sword struck by a ball. He rode 
up to me on the field, pale, greatly excited and alarmed at his narrow 
escape from the hands of his friends the Texans, made much ado 
over his scratch, evidently glad to have this favorable accident to 
9 



prove his gallantry. I had then, and have now, no doubt that he was 
the prime mover and adviser in preventing precautions in the way of 
pickets, in effecting our retreat and subsequent surrender; and, as 
proof positive, he abandoned the service and disappeared into Texas 
immediately thereafter. 

On or about the 23d of June, 1st Lieutenant W. B. Lane, com- 
manding, 2d Lieutenant C. H. McNally, and 2d Lieutenant Ed. J. 
Cressy, Regiment of Mounted Riflemen, with about seventy men, 
were ordered to make a scout down the Rio Grande toward El Paso, 
a rumor having reached the post that the Texans were advancing, 
and said to be four hundred strong. Lieutenant Lane, a hot-headed 
Kentuckian, had his own way of being loyal, which did not suit the 
extremists; but I had confidence in his determined bravery as a 
soldier, and his integrity as a man. He ordered his officers to ex- 
amine the cylinders of each man's revolver, to see that they were 
properly loaded, as he intended to make it a hand-to-hand fight. On 
hearing this news I went to my hospital and prepared bandages, 
dressings, etc., and praying, from my very soul, that such might be 
the case. Unfortunately he did not meet the enemy; otherwise our 
surrender would not have happened. 

I hope I'll be pardoned for relating an incident. On one of 
those wretched nights I was excited, unable to sleep, and dreading 
treachery and cowardice from the apathy of the garrison, I went to 
Lane's quarters about two a. m., wakened him up, and asked him 
what he would do if the Texans attacked the post ? Whether he 
would fight or surrender ? He assured me that he would fight, and 
not think of surrendering. My anxiety was allayed and my confi- 
dence restored. I went home and slept soundly until morning. 
Lane was shortly after this ordered to Santa Fe, N. M., with his 
company, and escaped the deep mortification of our surrender. 
He was a fighting man, and had to be got rid of. 

On or about the 20th of June, I took my buggy and horses, and 



got Major Lynde to drive over the river with me to the town oi 
Mesilla. I took him around the store-rooms and houses, pointing 
out such as I thought would do best for troops to occupy in case the 
necessity an.se of occupying the town. On our return home I told 
him of a point about a mile and half down the river, where there was 
a good ford ; that it could be commanded by throwing a company 
into the town of San Tomas, on the right bank, which commanded 
it, and thus prevent the enemy from crossing at the only available 
ford, except the one used in crossing to the town of Mesilla from the 
fort. On arriving at the town and showing him its advantages, he 
appeared to waken up to its importance, and next day sent Captain 
Joseph H. Potter, 7th Infantry, and next in rank to him, with two 
companies, to occupy the town and guard the ford. After the sur- 
render, George Frazier, a secessionist, but a great friend of mine (1 
having attended his family in serious sickness), told me that he, with 
some others, had gone out on the road near the river, beyond where 
we turned off to go to San Tomas, for the purpose of taking us pris- 
oners and running us down the right bank of the river into Texas. 
Unfortunately it did not so happen, as the command might have 
been saved. 

1 will here give an incident that happened in connection with 
Captain Potter, a good officer and a brave soldier, having proved 
it in the Mexican war as well as in the Civil war. 

One day, shortly before he was sent to San Tomas, I was sitting 
in my room, in came Potter smiling, and said, " Doctor, the Major 
has ordered me to put a field-gun or howitzer on the top of your 
kitchen roof." My house was the corner one of the row, and com- 
manded all the open space between it and the hospital. The houses 
had flat earth-roofs, in Mexican style. I asked, in a grim, melancholy 
way, what was the object of it. He replied, "I suppose to lire on 
the Texans, if they advance from that quarter on the post." I asked 
if it would not be better to move my stove and dishes out before the 



gun was fired, as it would, undoubtedly, go through the roof into the 
kitchen. Potter laughed, said that he did not know ; all he had to 
(In was to obey orders, and there really lay the secret. 

The gun was dragged up with ropes and mounted, but never 
tired. 

Such a brilliant method of defence, witli no pickets out in front, 
deserves to be immortalized. 

On the night of the 24th of July, when the garrison, men, women 
and children slept peaceably, with no more than the customary sen- 
tinels in time of peace, no pickets out in any direction, no precau- 
tions whatever taken to prevent surprise from the approaching enemy 
Everybody seemed to be inert and paralyzed, yet they were all brave 
men, and would have done their duty, had they had a competent 
commander. 

The Texans, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Baylor, 
C. S. A., to the number of four hundred men, had on the 24th of 
July advanced from El Paso (distant forty miles) and were quietly 
encamped within (600) six hundred yards of the fort, intending In 
surprise us at daylight, on the morning of the 25th, kill or capture 
the officers in their quarters, and then take the men prisoners in their 
barracks. A perfectly feasible plan, as the men, without any officers to 
give orders, would readily have submitted. Luckily for us, one of the 
Confederate pickets, composed of two old discharged soldiers, de- 
serted from their posts, came in, and alarmed the garrison, otherwise 
their success would have been complete, as they intended storming 
the place at the break of day. 

Drums beat the long roll, the command turned out, and we were 
saved for the time. Lynde took no further active steps, not sending out 
any scout to see where the enemy were. All was left to Providence. 
The mistake he made here was, in not sending out immediately a flag 



of truce, and surrendering us at once. Some lives would have been 
saved, and much public properly saved for the use of the enemy. 

My object in getting the town of San Tomas occupied by troops 
was to guard the ford, and prevent the enemy from gaining the town 
of Mesilla, where most if not all the Americans were rebel sympathi- 
zers. On the evening of the 23d (or 24th) Lynde had heard that the 
enemy were about to advance on the fort. He ordered Captain 
Potter to abandon San Tomas, with his two companies, and hasten 
to the fort. The Mesilla Times published a statement shortl) after- 
wards, that clothing, provisions, ammunition, and supplies weir lefl 
behind in considerable quantities, that eight prisoners were said to 
have been taken by the Confederates, disarmed, and sworn not to 
serve against them. How it happened that these eight men were left 
behind their companies, I never heard explained. I presume that 
they look advantage of the confusion, chose to remain, and take 
their chances with the enemy. 

The Confederates, meeting with no resistance at the ford, crossed 
on the morning of the 25th into San Tomas, and then leisurely 
inarched into town of Mesilla, distant some two miles, where they 
arrived about 10 a. m. and if the Mesilla Times is to be credited, they 
were received with every manifestation of joy. Vivas and hurrahs 
greeted them at all points. Forage and supplies were freely offered 
by the overjoyed citizens, who declared they were weary of Yankee 
tyranny and oppression (?). What was remarkable, these same much 
abused citizens had been supported by money received from Yankee 
officers and soldiers. 

On the morning of the 25th of July it was really known by us 
that the enemy had occupied Mesilla that morning. Our venerable 
commander ordered out the command, with the exception of a guard 
for the post, for the purpose of crossing the river, marching on Mesilla, 
and, as I supposed, attacking the enemy. The latter part of my suppo- 



sition was erroneous, as it afterwards turned out. Our force consisted 
of infantry, cavalry, and one two-gun battery of field guns, under jd 
Lieut. Francis J. Crilly, 7th U. S. Infantry, numbering between four 
and five hundred men, well disciplined and reliable soldiers. The 
infantry officers were, as near as I can remember: Isaac Lynde, 
Major, commanding, Capt. Joseph H. Potter, Capt. Math. R. Steven- 
son, 1 st Lieuts. Augustus H. Plummer, David P. Hancock, Edward 
J. Brooks, Post Adjutant, 2d Lieuts. George Ryan, Charles B. Stivers 
and Francis J. Crilly, 7th U. S. Infantry; 2d Lieuts. C. H. McNally 
and Edward P. Cressy, Regt. of Mounted Riflemen. There were I 
think others, but their names have escaped my memory. 

Charles H. Alden, Asst. Surg. U. S. A., was my junior and assis- 
tant. When the command was formed to advance on Mesilla, Dr. 
Alden asked permission to go with them. I declined, saying thai 1 
was his senior, and as such claimed the right to go with the command, 
as I thought, into action ; the doctor was directed to stay and take 
care of the sick at the post. After quite a delay we moved out of 
the garrison, about three P. M., toward Mesilla, on the opposite bank 
ill the river. No braver or more determined command ever inarched 
to meet an enemy. It made my despondent heart glad as 1 rode 
aliing and looked at the glittering array of muskets, well-drilled 
men, and trained horses. Now, I fondly hoped, we would at last 
certainly redeem ourselves, and make a successful blow for the honor 
nf the old flag, which fluttered in the bite, e at the head of the 
column. 

However, before coming to the fort. I ventured to suggest to 
Major Lynde, might it not be a good precautionary measure and 
prevent the enemy from outflanking us, if a cavalry company were 
ordered to go above, and cross the ford near Las Cruces, some two 
miles above the one we had to use. Acting on that suggestion, 
Lieut. E. P. Cressy, Reg't of Mounted Riflemen, with his company 
was ordered on this duty, protecting our right flank from surprise. 
'4 



This company joined us from the right front as we advanced in 
line of battle on the town, about four or five o'clock r. m., and 
took position on the right of the column. Prior to this, however, 
when some five hundred yards distant from the town, Lieut. Brooks, 
the adjutant, came riding up with a flag of truce in his hand, and 
said that the major desired me to accompany him, as I was better 
acquainted with the people on the other side than any other officer. 
To hear was to obey. I mounted and rode with the flag toward the 
enemy's lines. Two mounted men advanced to meet us ; both were 
armed with double-barreled shot-guns carried on the front of their 
saddles. They had different ideas of the sanctity of a flag of truce 
than we had, as we were both unarmed. One of these worthies, Hon. 
P. P. Herbert. Attorney at Law, formerly M. C. from California, had, 
when M. C, shot and killed an Irish waiter in the dining-room of one 
of the large hotels in Washington City, D. C, for some imaginary 
insult. He had been tried for the murder, and, of course, at that 
time, was acquitted. 

Lieut, brooks, in the name of his commander, demanded, "An 
unconditional surrender of the forces and the town." The reply was, 
that " //" he wished the town, to come and take it." At this time, think- 
ing, that we would certainly have a fight in which many men would 
be wounded on both sides. I kindly offered to Herbert, as a matter of 
humanity, that, in case they had any wounded on their side, I would 
be happy to render all the assistance in my power. This was ab- 
ruptly rejected with the remark that they had surgeons of their own. 
We rode back and delivered the reply, when the order was given to 
advance to the attack. The line of battle having been formed, the 
two field-pieces were on the road in the centre of the column, one 
half of the infantry on the left, and the other on the right. Our left 
was in a cornfield, with a large acequia (or irrigation canal) on its 
left, and in their front, some two hundred yards, an adobe house, 
which proved to be occupied by Texas troops. Here Lynde made 
'5 



one of the most extraordinary military movements. Instead of throw- 
ing out Infantry skirmishers in the cornfield to feel the enemy and 
protect his column, he ordered Lieut. McNally to deploy his com- 
pany mounted in front of the infantry, with the result of making the 
mounted men conspicuous targets for the Texans, lying, as they were, 
concealed in the adobe house, and with the result, that, when fired 
on, Lieut. McNally was shot through the apex of one of his lungs, 
four men killed, and several wounded. The company at this surprise 
retreated behind the infantry. Lieut. Crilly was ordered to fire shells 
into the town full of women and children ; indeed, I heard Lynde 
order Crilly to fire a shell at a group of women, children, and un- 
armed men, on one of the sand-hills to our left front ; a shell was so 
fired ; luckily it fell short, and no harm was done. The frightened 
crowd dispersed rapidly. So, without having, in accordance with the 
humane rule of civilized warfare, given notice to remove the women 
and children to a place of safety, shells were thrown into different 
parts of the town, fortunately injuring no one. 

I had my ambulance, litters, medicine chest, etc., on the road 
about fifty yards in rear of the battery. I think one sergeant and one 
private were killed, and some wounded were the casualties of the 
battery. The wounded were all being brought to me. Lieut. 
McNally pluckily rode up on his gray horse, and said that he was 
shot. I helped him off his horse, when he fainted, and fell on 
the sand. I opened his coat and shirt, saw the bullet hole, ran my 
finger into it, detected at once the pulsation of the subclavian artery, 
and saw that he was safe for the present. At this time Major Lynde 
and Lieut. Brooks rode up to me from somewhere on our right front, 
where they had been fired on. Brooks had a slight scratch from 
a bullet on one of his forearms, and his sword had been struck. They 
were the worst scared men I ever saw. The gray beard and hair 
of Lynde were a fitting frame for that pale face and cowardly 
soul. On riding up he said, "Doctor, get your wounded ready to 
16 



retreat." I, thinking that the fight had only commenced, innocently 
asked, "Where to, sir?" He replied, "To the fort." My soul 
sank within me and I thought, " Is this to be the disgraceful finale 
of an attack made by as good and as true a set of soldiers as 
ever fired a musket ? " Had any of the senior officers, present at 
this time, stepped forward, put Lynde in arrest, and taken the 
command, his fortune would have been made. 

I reluctantly got my dead and wounded into the ambulance, 
Lieut. McNally on a litter, and started for the river with the column. 
When the Texans saw us retreat, they cheered heartily and frequently. 
They were only too glad to have us leave them; fortunately they 
did not follow us to the river. Had they done so, I verily believe 
Lynde would have surrendered us at that time. We reached the 
fort about 10 P. m., and although since then I have passed many 
a sad, dreary, and gloomy night among dying and wounded men 
on the battle-field and in hospitals, yet that night left a lasting 
imprint on my memory. My friend McNally lay in my front 
room in great pain. The wounded in the hospital had to be 
attended to. I confess that I shed many bitter tears, cursing my 
luck that I had been born to the misfortune of being in the 
command of such an imbecile and coward. Again and now was 
the hour and the time for some one of the elder line officers to 
step to the front, and yet save us from an inevitable fate. But all 
were silent; had any one done so, the whole command would have 
sustained any kind of determined action. 

The morning of the 26th of July came in all its loveliness and 
freshness. The grand old "Organ Mountains" to the east loomed 
up in all their magnificent majesty. Their rugged, clear-cut sides 
stood out in bolder relief than usual, as if in mockery at the pitiable 
military farce going on at their base. 

At about 9 a. M. Lieut. Brooks, Adjutant, came to my house and 
said that the major ordered me to destroy my hospital property, pre- 
17 



paratory to a retreat that night in the direction of Fort Stanton, X. M. 

I declined to receive any such verbal orders, as 1 was personally 

responsible to my department for the valuable property, and would 

have to make returns showing what disposition I had made of it. to 

the Surgeon-General, U. S. A. 

Without any hesitation, Brooks sat down at my desk and wrote 

the following order, viz. : 

•' Headquarters, Fort Filmore, N. M. 

■■ July 26, 1861. 
"Sir: 

"The major commanding, directs that all property pertaining to the Medical 
Department, that cannot be moved with the transportation furnished you (one 
wagon), be as far as practicable destroyed. 

" I am, sir, very respectfully, 
" '/'<• " Your obedient servant, 

"Assist. Surgeon, "EDWARD J. BROOKS, 

"J. C. McKEE, I'. S. A.. 1st Lieut. 71I1 Infantry, 

" Fort Filmore, X. J/. "Adjutant. 

No doubt other officers, as the quartermaster and commissary, 
received similar instructions. However, the result showed that they 
failed or were unable to act conscientiously in carrying them out. 
No sooner did I receive the written order, than I went to my hos- 
pital, which had received a large quantity of medicines, liquors, etc., 
from Fort Buchanan and other abandoned forts in Arizona, and pre- 
pared conscientiously to carry out my orders. I ordered my hospital 
steward, Charles E. Fitzwilliams, U. S. Army, to bring out of the 
store-room all the medicines, particularly the valuable ones, as 
quinine, morphine, tinct. of opium, etc., etc., to open all the liquor 
boxes of brandy, whiskey, and wine, and arrange them in rows around 
the placita of the hospital. I had well-founded suspicions of the 
loyalty of this man, and therefore I made him work the harder under 



my eye and immediate direction. These suspicions in regard to him 
were afterward confirmed. After we were taken prisoners, he went 
over and joined the enemy. Some years after the war closed, I re- 
ceived a paper from the War Department, referred to me for remark. 
[| was a cool, impudent claim for back pay. 1 had the satisfaction 
of making a report in his case, which I think settled it, I never 
heard of it afterwards. 

On the rows being ready, I took off my coat, and made him 
do the same: armed each with a tent pole we went through and 
through that pile, leaving none unscathed or untouched; I then 
had all the iron bedsteads brought out and broken with sledge- 
hammers, then all the mattresses, blankets, sheets, etc., piled upon 
the debris ready to be fired. I then waited upon the commanding 
officer, and told him that I was ready to fire my hospital. This 
was almost too much for him, as he nervously and excitedly said, 
" By no manner of means, it would not do, as the enemy would 
take the alarm and know that we were preparing to retreat." Could 
imbecility have gone further than to imagine that a large command 
of men, women, and children could retreat over a great plain and 
not be discovered? The Mesilla Times next day reported that 
the hospital stores, medicines, and furniture were most completely broken 
up. A great deal of valuable commissary stores and other property 
were unharmed, to the amount of several thousand dollars. That the 
Mexicans, eager as ever for plunder, entered the fort soon after it 
was evacuated, and commenced a general pillage, carrying off prop- 
erty on their backs, on animals, and by the cart-loads. They must 
have pillaged property to the amount of several thousand dollars. 



THE RETREAT. 

BOUT eleven o'clock, p. m., on the evening of the 26th, I got 
into my two-horse buggy with my wounded friend, McNally, 
leaving and abandoning all my books, beds, bedding, car- 
pets, pictures, kitchen utensils, cooking ware, etc., in my home, to the 
value of several hundred dollars. I was most reluctant to part with 
my books, most of which were of a scientific character, and had 
been my inseparable companions during many a lonely day at Fort 
Massachusetts, Col., Fort Defiance, N. M., in campaigns and on the 
road, and their loss to me was like a parent parting with his children. 

I have been bitterly blamed by many for making such a general 
destruction of my hospital supplies, medicines, etc., but I did it in 
the conscientious execution of my duty and of orders, under a severe 
and most trying aggravation of repeated and continuous evidence of 
cowardice and imbecility of those I was sworn to obey. I would 
repeat the same under like circumstances, in presence of any enemy. 
If any additional excuse was needed, in addition to a soldier's duty, 
I give the acute mental agony and mortification, arising from the 
fact that our commanding officer was an imbecile if not a traitor. 
Mental incompetency and obliquity of moral vision, may relieve him 
from the last charge. Charity may be so extended as to allow that 
he had not brains enough to be a traitor. Lapse of time has not 
diminished the deep mortification of that retreat and that day. and 
now, after many years have rolled by, I get so excited and even 
tremulous with indignation, that I can scarcely command my pen to 
make this record. 

At daylight on the morning of the 27th of July, we were some 
eight or ten miles east of Las Cruces ; the road lay over the table 
lands and foot hills to a pass though the Organ Mountains to San 
Augustine Springs. The day was excessively warm, and there being 
no water, many men dropped out of the ranks almost dead from 



fatigue and thirst. Both sides suffered alike. The Texans, as they 
advanced on us, had no trouble in taking prisoners and disarming 
them by the squad. One brave private, crazy from thirst, fatigue, 
and undoubtedly despair, fired his musket at Colonel Baylor, C. S. A., 
and was immediately shot down by him. 

This was the only life lost. Our two pieces of artillery were 
captured. Captain Alfred Gibbs, with his company of Regt. Mounted 
Riflemen, on his way down to Filmore from Fort Craig with beef 
cattle, seeing our dust off toward the mountains, unfortunately joined 
us at this time, fell into the trap, and was compelled to accept of our 
fate. Everything was in unutterable and indescribable confusion. 
Ruin was on every side of us. The enemy were steadily advancing. 

The only temporary security and intervening guard was, that 
Captain Gibbs kept his company deployed every now and then in line 
of skirmishers, as he covered our retreat, retarding the advance of the 
enemy. Not a shot was fired, and I understood aftewards that this 
was Major Lynde's positive order. On or about noon I drove into 
camp at San Augustine Springs, found the companies in camp, and 
Lynde enjoying a comfortable lunch, as if nothing were going on, his 
command safe, instead of being a wreck and scattered along the 
road for miles. It was the sublimity of majestic indifference. In a 
short time the Confederates or Texans were seen advancing in line 
of battle to the number of some three hundred. Our men, number- 
ing at least five hundred infantry and cavalry, trained, disciplined, 
and well-drilled soldiers, were drawn up in an opposite line, forming 
a striking contrast to the badly-armed and irregular command of 
Texans. The enemy advanced to within three hundred yards of us, 
when Lynde raised and sent out a flag of truce, which was met and 
negotiations commenced with a view to surrender. They demanded 
an unconditional surrender, the same that Lynde had demanded of 
them at Mesilla. 

Lynde sought to modify this, but his request was refused, and to 



do the Texans full credit for humane conduct, they stated that tun 
hours would be granted to remove the women and children to a place 
of safety; a most marked contrast to the cowardly conduct of Lynde 
at Mesilla, when he ordered the artillery to open fire on the town full 
of them. 

At this time all the officers assembled, and proposed waiting on 
Lynde and protesting against the surrender on any terms. This 
final effort was so hopeless and feeble that I at first declined, but at 
last yielded to the persuasions of my wounded friend McNally, 
who walked feebly along on my arm. We found Lynde in .front 
of his line. One by one, from the senior down to the junior, 
we gave in our protest. It was farcical and ludicrous in the 
extreme, and must have so impressed others besides me. It was 
too late, even had any one of the senior line officers been bold 
and determined enough to seize the command by displacing Lynde, 
and putting him in arrest, a thing which ought to have been done 
before, particularly at the action of Mesilla, when he showed such 
marked incompetency and cowardice, and even prior to that, in not 
taking some decided measures to defend and protect the fort. Such 
action at that time, in 1861, would have advanced an officer to the 
rank of a brigadier general. Blind, unreasonable obedience to orders 
(creditable always in a well-disciplined force) was the ruin of our 
command. Many of these officers afterwards rendered distinguished 
services during the war. 

An unconditional surrender was at last agreed upon. Eleven 
(11) companies, if I remember right, of infantry and cavalry, between 
five and six hundred veterans, well disciplined and drilled troops, with 
two pieces of artillery (abandoned on the road), arms, and equip- 
ments, some two hundred cavalry horses, with mules and wagons and 
two or three hundred head of beef cattle, were unconditionally sur- 
rendered. 

All safety and security for life left to the mercy of the enemy. 



Any one of the command could have been selected out for vengeance, 
either public or private. 

Was there ever such a suicidal, cowardly, pusillanimous surren- 
der as that in all history? Of these eleven companies, three were of 
the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen, of the Infantry Companies, two 
were of the Fifth, and the remainder of the Seventh V. S. Infantry. 
All surrendered to some three hundred Texas militia, without firing 
a shot, or losing a single man. On July 28th we were all marched 
back to Las Cruces, and encamped. The arms of the men were de- 
livered up. the men paroled by their officers, and these gave their 
own parole on the following printed form, vi/. : 



Las Cruces, ) 

Territory of New Mexico. \ 

I, J.Cooper McKee, Assistant Surgeon Medical Department, of the Army 

nf the United States, do hereby pledge my word of honor, as an officer and a gen- 
tleman, that I will not bear arms or act under my commission as an officer against 
the Confederate States of America, or in any manner directly or indirectly against 
the said Confederate States in a belligerent capacity, until the present war ceases 
and peace is concluded between the Confederate States and the Federal Govern- 
ment, or until I am released by the Secretary of War of the Confederate States, 
or exchanged by said Government of the Confederate States for prisoners of rank 
held by the Federal Government, that may be agreed upon between the Secretary 
of War of the Confederate States and of the Federal Government. 

Given under my hand as an officer of the Federal Government at I. as Cruces, 
this ;,ist day of July, A. D., t86l. 

[Signed] J. COOPER McKEE, 

Assist. Surg. M,;i. Dept. 

r. s. a 



I took a receipt for my surgical instruments, of which the 
following is a copy, viz.: 

Receipt of Surgical Instruments, to J. Cooper McKee, Asst. 
Surgeon U. S. A., from Major Edwin Waller, C. S. A. 



3 Dissecting Cases, complete, 
i Genera] Operating Case, " 

3 Amputating Cases, " 

i Trephining Case, " 



I Catheter Case, complete 

3 Pocket Cases, 

i Pocket Case, complete. 



[Signed] E. WALLER, 

Major 2d Regt. Mtd. Rifles, 

Las duces, N. M., C. S. A. 

July 28th, 1 86 1. 

Some fifty carbines (old pattern) and ammunition were given 
us to protect ourselves against the Indians in marching across the 
"Jornado del Muerto," (journey of Death) up the Rio Grande to 
Santa Fe, N. M. 

In justice to Major Edwin Waller, C. S. A., the officers and 
men under him, I will say that they were considerate and kind to 
all, and behaved like soldiers in all respects. 

On my arrival at Albuquerque, N. M., I inclosed a copy of 
my parole of honor in the following letter to the Hon. the Secre- 
tary of War, through the Surgeon General, U. S. A.: 



Albuquerque, N. M., August 16, 1861. 
To the 

Surgeon General U. S. Army, 

Washington, />. C. 

Sir: 

I hereby inclose through you to the Hon. Secretary of War, my parole of honor, 
given at T.as Cruces, N, M.. to the commanding officer of the Texas Troops, 
after the base surrender of our forces by Major I.ynde of the 7th I'. S. Infan- 
try, on the 26th July, 1861. 

=4 



I also inclose a copy of an order to destroy my property. I made the 
destruction as complete as possible without the aid of fire. This I was forbid- 
den to use. I am unable to make out any return of my property, as in the 
confusion my retained copy of last year's return was lost. I will be under the 
necessity of waiting until my arrival in Washington. I also report, that my 
hospital steward, Charles E. Fitzwilliams, chose to remain with the Texans as 
a prisoner of war. All paroled troops, officers, and men are ordered to Fort 
Union, N. M., preparatory to leaving for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. I would 
be under deep obligations to the Surgeon Crural n he would have me exchanged 
immediately, as I am anxious to be again in active service. 

I am unable to express to you the deep grief, mortification, and pain, I, 
with all the other officers, have endured from this cowardly surrender of a 
brave and true command to an inferior force of the enemy, without having 
one word to say, or firing a single shot. I among other officers entered my 
solemn protest against the surrender. lint we were peremptorily told by Major 
Lynde that he was the commanding officer. 

To see old soldiers and strong men weep like children — men who had 
faced the battles' storm in the Mexican War — is a sight that I hope 1 may 
never again be present at. A braver, a truer command could nut he found 
than that which has in this case been made the victims of cowardice and 
imbecility. 

The number of women in this command should receive the rigid scru- 
tiny of the War Department, as five officers had their wives and children 
at this post (Fort Filmore). The camp women and children I will not pretend 
to enumerate. Vet all these were kept in the garrison to paralyze us when in 
presence of the enemy, seemingly preparing for the result, a surrender. Major 
Lynde was warned of this repeatedly, but was too weak to act. 

This has been one of the causes why I and others are now prisoner, of war. 

{Signed} J. COOPER McKEE, 

Surgeon, U. S. Army. 

This disastrous affair occurred July 28th, 1861, and after clue 
consideration Major Lynde was summarily dismissed the sen ice by- 
order of President Lincoln, and he ceased to be an officer of the 
Army, November 25th, 1861, four months after he had brought 
this disgrace upon the Army and the Country. 
2 5 



On the 27th of November, 1866, President Johnson revoked 
the order of President Lincoln and thus restored Major Lynde 
to duty to date from July 28th, 1866, and on the same date placed 
him on the "Retired List" of the Army. 

I am now growing gray in the service, and hope all animosity 
that may have been engendered at that unfortunate time has 
been softened and mellowed by time. 

I have endeavored to write nothing but facts from memoranda, 
compelling me to speak quite frequently of my individual actions 
From no desire of self-praise or interest to the injury of any one 
living or dead, but that I feel compelled to tell the truth irrespec- 
tive (if friend or foe. 



APPEN DI X 



7£THE following copies are pertinent to this narrative: 

[corv.1 

Washington, D. C, Maj rSth, 1882. 
To the Adjutant General, U. s. a. 

Washingti in, 1 ). C. 

Sir: I would respectfully call your attention and request a decision in the 
1 ase of Isaac Lynde, Majoi U. S. Army, retired, who was pre-emptorily dismissed 
the service by President Alnam Lincoln, on Nov. 25th, t86l, for the cowardly sur- 
render of a command of I". S. Troops, to an inferior body of the enemy, at or 
near Fort Filmore, new Mexico, on July 27, [861. 

Major Lynde was afterwards restored by President Andrew Johnson, simply 
revoking the order of dismissal, as Major of the 18th U. S. Infantry, Nov. 27th, 
1866. 

Under recent decisions in the cases of Fitz John Porter and Chaplain 
1 harks A. M. lilake, U. S. A., I claim that President Johnson could not legally 
reinstate this officer by revoking the order of a former President, and that the 
only legal way was to have renominated him, have him confirmed by the United 
States Senate, and that he is not an officer of the U. S. Army. For these reasons 
I respectfully request that his name be struck from the Army Register. 

For the history of this case and the reasons for his pre-emptory dismissal by 
the President, I would refer yon to the War of the Rebellion, Official Records of 
the Union and Confederate Armies, "Vol. IV., Series L, Pages n, 37, 44, 45, 50, 
56, 58, and 60," also to the enclosed " Narrative of the Surrender of a Command 
of V. S. Forces at Fort Filmore, N. M., in July 1861." 
I have the honor to remain, 

V'erj respectfully, your obedient servant, 

J. C. McKEE, 
Major and Surgeon, V. S. A 



[copy.] 
War Department, Adjutant General's Office, 

Washington, June 8, 18S2. 
Major J. C. McKee, 

Surgeon U.S. Army, Washington, D. C. 

Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the iSth ultimo, 
requesting that the name of Major Isaac Lynde, U. S. Army, retired, be omitted 
from the Army Register, on the ground that his restoration to the service in 1866 
was illegal, and to inform you by direction of the Secretary of War, that the Presi- 
dent is not disposed, at tJiis late date, to moke any change in the status of Major 
Lynde, as established in 1S6G. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

R. C. DRUM, 

Adjutant General. 

[copy.] 
Medical Director's Office, Dept. of the Columbia. 

Vancouver Barracks, W. T„ Nov. 24th, 1SS5. 
To Genl. R. C. Drum, 

Adjutant lien'/ U. S. A. 

Washington, D. C. 

{Tkrmgh regular Military Channels i) 

Sin: I would respectfully call your attention to the fact that in the Records 
of tie Rebellion. Series I, Vol. IV, there is published only some few letters 
and reports in regard to the surrender of a command of U. S. forces at 
Fort Filmore, New Mexico, in July, A. D. 1861, under the command of Major 
Isaac Lynde, 7th U. S. Infantry, at the breaking out of the Civil War between 
the North and the South, to the Confederate forces under Major E. Waller, 
C. S. A. 

At that time I occupied the position in Major Lynde's Command of Senior 
Assistant Surgeon and kept notes and memoranda of the affair which were 
carried and preserved by me for many years, and from which was compiled 
this complete narrative of the surrender. 

As it has been published to the Army and to the public since 1S7S, a 
28 



' 












period of seven or eight years, and has not been denied or disputed bj Majoi 
Lynde (still living) * or any of the other still living actors, either in or out of 

the army, it is only fair to claim that it is a truthful report and statement 
of that unfortunate affair. 

Considering then that no full report has ever appeared or been published 
in the "Records of the Rebellion" relating to military operations of that period, 
1 respectfully request that the enclosed copies may he brought to the attention 
of the Secretary of War, and placed among the official files of the Adjutant 
General's Office. 

U-'our printed copies enclosed with «/,</ '» ea, i 
Very respectfully, 

Your obedient set vant, 

J. C. McKEE. 

U. S. A. 

[COPY.] 

War Department, Adji i ant General's Office. 

Washington, December iSth, [88s. 
Surgeon J. C. .Mckee, U. S. Army. 

TAro' ffeadq'rs, Division of tin- Pacific 

Presido, San Francis,;; California. 

Sir: Referring to your letter dated November— 1885, forwarding to this 

office, pamphlets containing a narrative of the surrender of V . S. forces at Fort 

Eilmore, N. M., in July 1S61, with a view to its publication in the "Records 

of the Rebellion;" I have the honor to inform you that, under the uniform 

rulings of the Secretary of War, this pamphlet has no place in the official 

records of the War of the Rebellion. The official report of the events in 

question has been published in Vol. IV, series I, of those records. 

I am, Sir, 

Very respectfully 

Your obedient servant, 

J. C. KELTON, 

Asst. Adjutant General. 



1 Major Lynde died April, 1SS6, since this was 



INDEX. 



Acequia 

Adobe-Houses, ....... 

Alarm, 

Albuquerque 

Alden, Charles II., Assistant Surgeon, United Sl.i 

Artillery, 

Hand of the Seventh Infantry, .... 
Baylor, Lieutenant-Colonel, Confederate States Ai 
Brooks, E. J., First Lieutenant, Post Adjutant, 

Canby, E. K. S., Major, 

Command, ........ 

Confederates, 

Convalescents, Armed, ..... 

Cressy, Ed. J., Second Lieutenant, . 
Crilly, Francis J., Second Lieutenant, 

Cultivated Land, 

Doha Anna, 

El Paso, 

Enemy, Attacking the, . . 13. Joined 

Fatigue and Thirst, 

Fight, Prospective, ...... 

Fitzwilliams, Charles E., Hospital Steward, U. S. 
Flag, Old, . . 14. Of Truce, 

Ford of Rio Grande, 

F'orts, United States, 

Frazier, George, 

Frontier in New Mexico and Arizona, 

Garrison, Apathy of 

Gibbs, Alfred, Captain, 

Guard-House 

Guns, Field Battery of, . . 14. Mounte 
Hancock, David P., First Lieutenant, 

Herbert, P. P 

Hospital, ... 18, 19. Ste 
Houses, Adobe, ..... 
Howitzer on top of house, 



Indian Incursions, 
Infantry and Cavalry, 
Inspector General, 
Johnson, President, 
Jornado del Muerto, 
Killed and Wounded, 



Na 



aid, 



ajoes, 



5. 6. 



5. t 


• 7 


7, 


12 




») 


0, 


10 


i.\ 


2 S 


'5. 


21 



6, 2. 



Lane, W. I!., First Lieutenant, 
Las Cruces, .... 

Las Lun as, .... 

Lynde, Isaac, Major, Description of 
Materials for History, 
McNallv, C. H., Second Lieutenant, 

Mesilla, 

Mexicans, Plunder of, 

Militia, Texas, .... 

Mountains, Oregon, 

Nights, Wretched, 

Officers, Assembled, . 

( Irders, Obedience to, 

Parole, Form of, ... 

Pay, Hack, 

Peace with the Indians, 
Pickets, ..... 

Plummet-. Augustus IL, First Lieut 
Potter, Joseph II. , Captain, 
Prisoners, ..... 
Private, Brave, .... 
Property, Hospital, 
Quartermaster and Commissary, Pi 
Quartermaster's Corral 

Retreat 

Riflemen, Mounted, 

Rio Grande del Norte, 

Ryan, George, Second Lieutenant, 

San Augustine Pass, . . 6. Spr 

San Tomas, 

Santa Fe, N. M. 

Schriver, Edmond, United States Ar 

Scout, 

Secretary of War, 

Sentinels, ...'.. 

Socorro, 

Soldiers, Discharged, . 
Stevenson, Math. R., Captain, 
Stivers, (harks 11, Second Lieuten 
Supplies, Abandoned, 

Surprise 

Surrender, Unconditional, . 
Texan Advance, 

Topography of vicinity, Fort Filmot 
Treachery and Cowardice, 

Veterans, 

Waller, Edwin, Major, Confederate States Ai 

Warfare, Civil, 

Whipple Barracks, 

Wives and Families of Officers and Soldiers 

Yankee Tyranny, ..... 



my. 



5. 
■4- " 



4, 16, i 
6, 



6, 7, 20 

5 
5, 1 6, 2t 

4 

7. -°, -- 

7. 'o. 19 

19 



10, 17 

22, 25 
18, 22 

23. 24 

19 

7 

8, 12 

'4 

11. 1 ■;, 1 4 

3. I0 > -■ 

21 

'7. -5 

18 

8 

7, t8, 20 

.10, 23 

5. 6 

[4 

20, 2 1 

6, 11 

S, 10 



' 



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TIBRARY Ul- 



